Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run homer in a four-run first inning and the Toronto Blue Jays went on to defeat the visiting Minnesota Twins 10-4 on Monday night.
Andres Gimenez added a solo shot for the Blue Jays in the opener of the three-game series. It was the start of a six-game homestand for the Blue Jays, who returned from a 3-3 road trip.
Matt Wallner bashed two homers and had three RBIs for the Twins, who are 1-3 on their current six-game trip.
Toronto rocked Joe Ryan (12-7) in the first inning that opened with George Springer’s first-pitch single to left and Nathan Lukes’ double over Wallner’s head in right field. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out, Bo Bichette hit an RBI single to left against a drawn-in infield, Daulton Varsho lined a sacrifice fly to center and Kirk homered on a first-pitch, center-cut fastball.
Gimenez homered on a first-pitch fastball to lead off the home second.
After three of the previous five Minnesota batters flied out to the warning track, Wallner socked a first-pitch slider from Max Scherzer (5-2) over the wall in right center with two out in the fourth.
Gimenez singled with two out in the home fourth, stole second and scored on Springer’s single.
Ryan allowed six runs, seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in five innings.
Minnesota caught up to Scherzer in the sixth. Byron Buxton walked, took third on Trevor Larnach’s single and scored on Brooks Lee’s groundout. Wallner homered to right on a first-pitch fastball, trimming the lead to 6-4.
Scherzer completed six innings, allowing four runs, four hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
Twins reliever Brooks Kriske allowed four runs in the home sixth. Kirk walked, Ernie Clement doubled and Gimenez walked to load the bases. Lukes then hit a two-run double with two out and Guerrero followed with a two-run single.
Toronto’s Justin Bruihl pitched around a single and a walk in the eighth to complete two runless innings. Tommy Nance pitched a runless ninth.
